Brief Interventions with Bereaved Children (2^nd Ed.)

Recent years have seen increasing interest in the needs of children facing bereavement, and a corresponding increase in services to support them. This book addresses and explains the theoretical concepts and practical implications behind the idea of brief work with bereaved children and families. Flexible and accessible short term services delivered at the right time underpin the strengths of bereaved children, supporting their recovery rather than pathologising the grief process. In this way the book also speaks to the current interest in the concept of resilience and working with families' strengths and possibilities, rather than merely identifying their problems. This second edition continues to be a unique book within the growing filed of childhood bereavement, and the new chapters added to this edition discuss managing situations with learning disability, supporting very young children and emotional literacy. The book also presents cases from the service user's perspective. It looks at different approaches to intervention, such as the importance of assessment and the value of groupwork, and also covers work with children and families before a death. Brief interventions with bereaved children will appeal to practitioners, educators and service providers managing scarce resources. The editors have more than twenty-five years experience as practitioners within the field, as service providers and educators. The book features chapters from distinguished contributors with backgrounds in healthcare, education, social work and the police, alongside theoretical and practice-based chapters from workers in the field of bereavement care for children.

Introduction. 1. Childhood bereavement:tThe context and need for services. 2. Theoretical perspectives: linking research and practice. 3. Bereavement, young people and social context. 4. Swampy ground: brief interventions with families before bereavement. 5. Family assessment. 6. Therapeutic interventions. 7. Groupwork. 8. Shrinking the space between people: telephone and email support. 9. Loss for children with learning disability. 10. Co-creating memory: supporting very young children. 11. The extended warranty. 12. Loss and grief in schools: attending to people and place. 13. Seasons for growth: a practical approach to emotional literacy. 14. Working with volunteers to provide bereavement support to children. 15. Brief interventions in critical care environments. 16. Working with traumatically bereaved children. 17. Helping the family following suicide. 18. Family liaison: when once has to be enough. 19. Personal narratives. 20. Crossing the great barrier grief: a facilitated self-help group for parents and carers.

Barbara Monroe has been a social worker for over 30 years. She joined St Christopher's Hospice in London in 1987 and became Chief Executive in 2000. She is also Director of the Candle children's bereavement project and was Chair of the national Childhood Bereavement Network for 8 years. She is Module Leader on the MSc in Palliative Care and Policy run jointly by St Christopher's Hospice and King's College London. Barbara is a well-known lecturer and trainer and has written extensively about the psychological and social aspects of palliative care. Barbara is an Honorary Professor at Lancaster University. Frances Kraus is Candle Project Leader at St Christopher's Hospice, London, UK.